By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Some coaches hunt or fish for a hobby.

For Fort Hays State University baseball coach Rick Sabath, it's tooting a whistle.

There was Sabath at Tuesday's first round of the Class 1A State Championships at Gross Memorial Coliseum, refereeing the game between Montezuma-South Gray and Macksville. Sabath also was scheduled to referee one more game today, then it's back to work as coach for the Tigers, who play at home this weekend.

"Can't do any more (basketball games) because of baseball," said Sabath, who is working his eighth state tournament and has been officiating for 15 years.

Sabath got his start in officiating while he was a college student.

"Actually got started in college," he said. "Took a rules and officiating class at Barton County."

Soon after, Sabath was officiating a junior high girls' basketball game involving Claflin. That's where he first met Jackie Stiles, who later would have a record-breaking career at Claflin High School.

"Jackie Stiles stole every pass" in that game, Sabath said. "You knew then she would be something special."

Sabath, who also referees football games and has worked an eight-man state championship game, treasures the friendships he's made through officiating.

"Something I really enjoy," Sabath said. "I really love getting to know the other officials, camaraderie with the other guys."

Sabath also is an area supervisor for basketball officials.

"I'm able to help out a lot of other officials," Sabath said.

Sabath said it wouldn't be a bad idea for coaches to try officiating and referees try to coach. It would lend a perspective he has as the Tigers' baseball coach. When a basketball coach gets angry with a call, Sabath is there to calm things down.

"Whenever (a coach) talks to me, kind of lost his cool, I say I understand, I (coach) for a living," Sabath said.

Sabath, like others in the business, knows how he wants today's game to go, before it's back to baseball.

"(Today) is my last game of the year," Sabath said. "As an official, you want to go out with nobody knows you're there."